Our Kenya safari - February 2014

Thanks WS and Safariman, glad you enjoyed lion day.  We did gather that Acacia pride was huge and well spread out so we were pleased to see 3 of them at least.  I agree about lion life, it is complicated and how you are supposed to keep up with who is who and then how a pride splits and divides is a complete mystery, unless of course you are watching them day in and day out!

We were hoping the lone male would find another lone male to pair up with as he really is such a handsome lion.  Lion life is tough for both males and females   

Lai

They all do look very well indeed don't they, it's lovely to see such well rounded Lions and cubs. I love the pictures of the lone male especially the full face sleeping shot, so handsome and gorgeous at the same time. It would be lovely if he was able to pair up with another lone male for company and he would have a much better life if he did. Their social living is hard to keep track of isn't it and I reckon you are right Lai, you need to be watching them every day to really get a handle on it. The very last shot is wonderful Lai and you can see he is a youngster and how well he is by looking at his teeth, they are pristine.
Does that Lioness just look full or is she pregnant?
I have loved Lion day, its been great to see the two prides and to see adults and cubs looking so wonderful. Thanks Lai   

 for even more photos of your marvellous holiday Leopard (or should I say Lioness!) Lai   Very nice clear pics of them all; I like the one of the male lion with eyes closed.

Tough world isn't it, when even the biggest of the African cats is struggling to make ends meet.

Looking forward to further photos of your latest trip.

Thanks Littlewid and G       R  I think she was just full not pregnant Littlewid, and I agree about his teeth, real pearly whites.

I do wish we had been able to spend more time with them but 3 days at Offbeat wasn't enough    Another time   

More pics later .....

Lai  

Ahhh 3 days is better than no days Lai    that Lioness must have had some feed, which is actually nice to know they are getting enough food. I'm looking forward to more pics when you have the time   

littlewid-x-

  Littlewid.  Definitely another selection over the weekend   

Lai  

My eyes will be peeled    

littlewid-x-

We are waiting   

  Later ..................................................... soonish

Mrs Kipia   

These are just a few to show who visited our house in Sarara.  Normally we are in the wonderful tents but they only have 6 and they were all being used so they gave us this house which sleeps 4.  This is a superb house open to the elements.  There is an ele known as One up One down who likes to visit and each night was on the grass outside the front of the house.  We watched him very quietly and it really was quite an experience.  I don't think I've ever been so close to an ele in my pj's

Von der Decken's Hornbill


We put dried rice etc out and lots of birds visited


Sessia - my all time favourite kudu


Bats roosting in our roof


I'm not sure what type of bat but they are amazing


May look sweet but a nuisance - and help themselves to anything they can find


Our house


View from our house


Sessia - she sadly lost her baby to a leopard and has the scars to prove it.  Not to mention her right ear is half missing. She went wild again for a bit so is probably pregnant again. Fingers crossed she is.


That's it for just now.

Lai

Oh my Goodness Lai, Sessia is just so pretty isn't she, that last photo of her is adorable, no wonder she is your favourite Kudu. What a shame about her baby and it sounds as though he put up a fight for it, how brave was she but I suppose that's a mothers love and wild animals do go to the enth degree to protect their young don't they. I remember you telling us about Sessia before so it's lovely to see her again and fingers crossed she is pregnant again and if so I hope the Leopards leave this one alone.

What an amazing house, I would love to stay there, its just how I imagined a house would be and the view is spectacular, I bet you didn't mind staying there and with Bats as well, that must have been so exciting, they look really sweet little bats don't they, did you get to see them flying at night?

Watching an ele in your PJ's is not an experience many could have had and a real story to tell, do they know how old he is? and have you any pics of him or did you just enjoy the moments with him being there?

I like the Von Der Decken's Hornbill, what a stunning bird, is that the first one we have had on here? I don't recall seeing one before unless it's just my bad memory!

The Monkey has a very sweet face and adorable eyes but you can also see the cheek in him, I bet you had to keep everything locked away from him or say goodbye to it forever but then again, Monkeys wouldn't be Monkeys if they weren't cheeky.

I keep scrolling down to Sessia, i'm in love with her too   

Thank you for those Lai, really loved seeing them and they have made me smile   
littlewid-x-

Thanks Littlewid.  The bats flew out as the light faded and what a noise as they left, it was like a swooshing sound and then they were gone (a bit messy too).  At some point in the night they return and tuck themselves up again.  Quite fascinating and I was pleased we slept under a mossie net!

We really didn't dare get a camera to take any photos.  It was the middle of the night and very dark and we didn't want spook him and cause chaos or him trying to charge us in our house!  Some things are definitely a memory but we did have him two nights running.  I'm not sure of his age but not old.

I probably didn't mention the whole name for the Hornbill as there are different types, but at Sarara that's the one they have.  They really are photogenic and not scared of posing for a photo.

Actually I didn't put anything away and amazingly the cheeky little thing didn't steal anything, I should have done but was lucky.

We are going back to Sarara next January so who knows, perhaps Sessia will have another baby.  I can't wait    We're going to ask to stay in the house again as it really is special.

Lai

You look to have had some great accommodation with a gorgeous view. The hornbills seem much more prevalent in the north, you rarely see them in the Mara. The photo is of a male and they appear to be easily tamed around camps when they wait expectantly for food. I am not sure about the bats but they look very similar to Peter's epauletted fruit bat that I used to see a lot of in SA they have very distinctive white tufts of hair in front of and behind their ears. Vervets around camp are always a nuisance, they are fun to watch but can be very destructive if you leave anything lying around. It is the same with baboons, while I was staying at the Mara camp a troop of baboons totally wrecked tent 5. The front of the tent had been folded back to
welcome the new guests and when they entered the tent all the saw was devastation, even the bathroom mirrors had been broken. They were quickly rehoused in another tent!!!
The problem with safaris is having to go to bed as so much happens after dark and I often think it would be great to find a secure spot and just spend the night waiting to see what was around.

SM

  Safariman. Up in Lewa one of the tents was trashed by the vervets so we were always very careful. I think at Sarara he was just being nosy and very cautious so didn't dare come right in!

We did stand and watch the ele and you are right, night time is when so much happens. There is nothing nicer than listening to the night sounds of lions roaring and hyena chatting   

Lai

How lovely that you are going back in January Lai. I imagine a lot does happen at night time whilst everyone is tucked up in bed. One thing I would try and do is to stop up all night to see and listen to everything that is going on and drink in the night time life and sounds so I get a taste of an actual 24hrs of where I am staying but then the next day would have to be a very lazy day catching up on sleep so I would be ready to explore the following day.

littlewid-x-

  Littlewid. Good idea, we'll have a go at that one night and see who visits   

Lai

With working over the weekend, I'll have to catch up with this in the wee, but just having a quick look those photos are brill Lai

WS

Sessia is beautiful Lai, I'm not surprised she's your favourite Kudu, what a shame she lost her bay to a Leopard. Hopefully as you say she will have another one soon. The Hornbill is also beautiful, and the monkey looks a right little rascal   you were lucky to get away without him pinching anything. I've heard of Bats in the belfry, but that's ridiculous   cant see Mrs S sleeping there. How wonderful to have One up One down on your lawn at night, that must have been magic to watch with sundowner or two. How did the Elephant get that name ?
Thanks for some wonderful pics, and sharing them with us
WS

Glad you enjoyed them WS. I was told about One up One Down and I can't remember    so I'll have to go and ask Pete   

Lai

Liking the pics of Sessia, very pretty Kudu.

And having all of those bats around must have been quite an experience! Personally I think I would really love to have those guys nesting above me   

Apart from the P   GR     Luckily they preferred the other bedroom not ours!

I am going to post some more pics just now, a few misc ones..

Lai  

Remember the Lion King?  This is the rock they copied for the film   


Loo with a view - at Il Ngwesi


Speckled Mousebird


We visited a maasai village whilst at Il Ngwesi and whilst we were having sundowners one of the donkeys decided to warm himself by the fire, he stood for a while and then turned and did his other side and kept rotating for hours.  One sensible donkey   



We met another couple on the airstrip who had been camping and this camel had been carrying their kit


Sessia surveying her territory from the safety of Sarara - she is free to come and go but turns up every meal time   She is in a stable at night for safety unless she's out finding a mate.


Lots of donkeys around at Sarara, this one was visiting the waterhole


We saw 2 Klipspringer from a great distance, they are really timid and shy and don't hang around, I was on my big lens and this is cropped so not a good pic but I was so chuffed to get one at all!  They live high up on rocks and are superbly agile.


That's it for now I need to shop   

Lai   

Interesting selection of photos Lai.
I have never seen the Lion King so cannot comment!!!
Whenever I see photos of the rooms at Il Ngwesi I always think they must have been built by Robinson Crusoe from driftwood he found on the beach!! But a great view.
Are the donkeys all domesticated or are some of them feral?
Great to see the Klipspringer, I love the way they stand on their toes, just like a ballet dancer on points. Surprisingly I saw one on one of my visits to Offbeat Mara. It was living close to camp on the big rocky outcrop on the other side of the river opposite Lion Hill!! You never know what you are going to see on safari!!

SM

Wow, so that's the rock from The Lion KIng, amazing, and so was the film. Dear Sessia, isn't she just adorable    the Klipspringer I have only seen on a documentary before and I remember about them being on their toes, i'm really pleased for you that you got that picture Lai   
Mmmmmm love the view from the loo but I do hope you weren't over looked   , I get the impression that on Safari you have to be pretty comfortable with not much privacy   The Speckled Mousebird is a new one on here I think? love the tuft on his head and he looks a short stocky bird with little wings from that photo. What a very clever and sensible Donkey    he looks a very healthy Donkey Lai, so I am sure they are well looked after. I am sure the camel is lovely but they don't do much for me, I remember riding one in the Sahara Dessert and I hated every moment of it   and I have no desire to ride another one but if I wanted to get from A to B I had no choice   
Great selection of photo's there Lai but now my brain is stuck on the Lion King   

littlewid-x-

Thanks Safariman.  I agree you never know what you are going to see of safari, and that's the fun of it     the donkeys are domesticated and it seems there are now too many and they aren't really used so a lot of them run free.

I agree about Il Ngwesi and Robinson Crusoe, rustic and very lovely though with a flushing loo!  Littlewid, you aren't overlooked, they are cleverly built, although from the front you are - so mostly the eles looking   

Camels don't do it for me either, last year we rode them for 1/2 hour and I loathed it, I would rather walk!  I try to add different birds that I haven't posted before so the Speckled Mousebird is a new one.

I'll have a look through and see what else is new.

Lai

How about that with the negative connotation of being called a Donkey. Clearly this is a false premise! Very smart chap indeedy to stay close to that warming fire   

Wonderful to see another beautiful pic of Sessia. Must be great to be able to get so close to her.

And the pick of all of this is The Lion King rock! It is such a memorable setting within that fantastic movie, and what a sensational 'real' rock that this is that you have captured for us.   for that Lai. Much appreciated.

GR